Each year the Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation hosts the Top Hat dinner dance to help raise funds for equipment or services that will improve patient care at Washington Hospital. Proceeds from this year's gala will underwrite the purchase of BrainSuite(r), a high-tech imaging system that helps surgeons navigate very precisely in the brain and spine.

"With BrainSuite, a surgeon can create a three-dimensional model of a patient's brain or spine, using CT images taken during an operation," says Dr. Sandeep Kunwar, a neurosurgeon at Washington Hospital and co-medical director of the Gamma Knife(r) Program, medical director of the Endoscopic Skull Base and Pituitary Center and co-medical director of the Movement Disorders Program.

"Viewing these images, which are displayed in the operating room on touch-sensitive, flat-panel monitors, we can place implants in the spine without damaging the spinal column, and remove tumors in the brain without destroying vital brain tissue," explains Dr. Kunwar. "For the patient, this image-guided surgical technology means smaller incisions, faster healing, and fewer complications."

Help Build "Operating Room of the Future"

Dr. Kunwar and his wife, Purvi, are chairing this year's Top Hat event. "Purvi and I are very excited to chair this wonderful event," says Dr. Kunwar. "We encourage friends and colleagues to attend Top Hat in support of Washington Hospital. Come enjoy a fun evening and know you'll be helping build this community's operating room of the future."

"The Top Hat Committee is hard at work planning an exciting evening for attendees," says Demetrious Shaffer, President of the Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation. "If you join us, I guarantee you will have a fabulous evening and you'll go home proud of having supported our talented doctors and nurses at Washington Hospital."

The evening will start with a hosted reception followed by an elegant dinner catered by McCalls Catering and Events, which for over three decades has been widely recognized for its exceptional cuisine and attentive staff. After dinner, guests can dance the night away to a live band or enjoy a cocktail and conversation in the lounge.

If supporting a good cause among friends while enjoying a glamorous evening of fine food and incredible entertainment appeals to you, then reserve your ticket to Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation's 26th Annual Top Hat Dinner Dance. The black-tie-optional event will be held on Saturday, October 13, in the Grand Tent at Washington West. To purchase tickets or become a sponsor, please call the Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation at (510) 791-3428 or email foundation@whhs.com.

Celebrating 26 years

First held at the Top of the Mark in San Francisco, Top Has has grown dramatically since its beginning twenty-six years ago. Now, more than 650 revelers join the Foundation every year for the gala hosted a grand tent adjacent to Washington West. The decor is always incredible and provides a night of memories you won't want to miss.

The Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation plays a key role in ensuring Tri-City residents have access to the most advanced medical care available today. Established in 1983 as a separately incorporated nonprofit organization, the Foundation's mission is to enhance Washington Hospital Healthcare System by raising public awareness and securing financial support. The Foundation helps Washington Hospital meet the community's healthcare needs by funding state-of-the-art medical equipment.

Don't miss your opportunity to attend Top Hat XXVI!

The hosted reception starts at 6 p.m., with dinner and dancing from 7:30 p.m. to midnight. Individual tickets to the Top Hat Dinner Dance are $250, with proceeds benefitting the BrainSuite at Washington Hospital. For more details, to purchase tickets or to become a sponsor, please call the Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation at (510) 791-3428 or email foundation@whhs.com. For more information about the Foundation or Top Hat, visit www.whhs.com/foundation.